Plant responses to nitrate, phosphate and sucrose form a complex molecular network crucial for terrestrial adaptation. However, the origins, functional diversity and evolvability of this network during plant terrestrialization remain scarcely understood. Here we compare the transcriptomic response to these nutrients in the bryophyte Marchantia polymorpha and the streptophyte alga Klebsormidium nitens. We show that the largely species-specific nutrient response pattern is driven by gene regulatory network (GRN) alterations. Intriguingly, while pathways governing the GRNs exhibit modest conservation, M. polymorpha GRNs exhibit more regulatory connections through the redeployment of ancient transcription factor CSD. In M. polymorpha, functional analyses reveal the involvement of pre-existing cytokinin machineries in downstream targets, orchestrating plastic morpho-physiological responses to nutrient status. Our findings implicate the genetic co-option events facilitating successful land plant establishment.

植物对硝酸盐、磷酸盐和蔗糖的反应形成了一个对陆地适应至关重要的复杂分子网络。然而，在植物陆地化过程中，该网络的起源、功能多样性和进化能力仍然知之甚少。在这里，我们比较了苔藓植物 Marchantia polymorpha 和链藻 Klebsormidium nitens 对这些营养物质的转录组反应。我们表明，主要物种特异性的营养反应模式是由基因调控网络 （GRN） 改变驱动的。有趣的是，虽然控制 GRN 的途径表现出适度的保守性，但 M. polymorpha GRNs 通过重新部署古老的转录因子 CSD 表现出更多的调节连接。在 M. polymorpha 中，功能分析揭示了预先存在的细胞分裂素机制参与下游靶标，协调对营养状态的可塑性形态生理反应。我们的研究结果表明，遗传共选择事件有助于陆地植物的成功建立。